Steeped in the rich (yet largely uncelebrated) tradition of African-American string bands of the old South, the Carolina Chocolate Drops have been making a name for themselves with a uniquely modern vibe and approach. Since forming in 2005, the up-and-coming quartet has recorded four albums of brilliant material that Rolling Stone praises for its “dirt-floor-dance electricity.” Last year their hard work started to pay off — Genuine Negro Jig took home the Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album. All of the musicians sing and trade instruments including banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, snare drum, jug and kazoo. The quartet’s charm lies in an effortless ability to balance vintage sounds with a contemporary ethos. Band member Rhiannon Giddens sums it up best saying: “Tradition is a guide, not a jailer.”